WWII Causes and Outbreak Flashcards
Dictators Take Over
Focus on structure and order - Italy, Germany, Japan
Germany harshly punished (Treaty of Versailles)
Germany in Depression
Italy - Mussolini - Fascist dictatorship
Germany - Hitler - Fuhrer
Japan - Hideki Tojo - Prime Minister
Nazi party takes over Germany
Night of the Long Knives
June 30, 1934
Hitler sends the SS and Gestapo to kill his political enemies
Japan Leaders
Emperor Hirohito was seen as the Spiritual incarnation of God on earth.
Prime Minister Hideki Tojo holds tremendous power over military decisions
Tripartite Pact in 1940
Also called Berlin Pact - Germany, Italy Japan
The purpose of the Tripartite Pact was to promote military cooperation between its members
intended to deter the United States from entering the conflict
Emperor Hirohito
Was seen as a God on earth.
Japanese people would follow absolutely.
Some say the Emperor was a puppet to his military
Battle of Britain (Blitz of London)
Bombing for 9 months
people hid in subways
Radar helps British stop German planes
Germany never invades England
Invasion of Poland
Sept 1 1939
1st use of Blitzkrieg “lightning War”
Non-aggression pact with Soviet Union - split Poland
England and France declare war - but don’t attack
Blitzkrieg
Lightning War
large-scale night air-raids
Miracle at Dunkirk
Germany makes a mistake and lets 400,000
troops escape at Dunkirk (north of France)
The Munich Agreement (Pact)
Signed by Britain, France, and Germany.
Allowed Germany to go into the Sudetenland.
Hitler promises that he isn’t going to go into any other country.
French Surrender (Armistice)
France surrenders June 21, 1940
Europe is under NAZI control
When did the US join the fight?
England under attack, rest of Europe has fallen
Japan launces a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec 7, 1941.
Japan attacks US at Guam and Philippines the same day. Wipes out much of Pacific Fleet
US Declares war Dec 8th.
Decision is made to “Get Hitler First”
America is forced to fight a two front war, Pacific and Europe.
North Africa
Nov. 1942 Forces led by Dwight Eisenhower fight for N. Africa
NAZI’s surrender N. Africa in May 1943, are forced to retreat to Italy
Gives US a place to attack Europe (Italy) from
“soft underbelly”
Fall of Italy
1943 - after win in Africa
40 mi from Rome “Bloody Anzio: German forces retreat
Mussolini and his wife are captured, shot, and hung in Milan Square. Bodies are mutilated
Italy switches sides, joins the Allies.
Path to VE Day
Battle of the Bulge - Dec 1944 Germany makes a last push to break Allied lines.
Soviets push west into Berlin, finding Concentration Camps
April 25, 1945 Soviets storm Berlin, Americans on the Western side also pushing in
